Director Category Management - New Business Development, Enterprise

OmniCable•Carol Stream, IL

About The Position

As a key leader within OmniCable’s Communications Business Unit, the Director Category Management of New Business Development, Enterprise will drive the strategic direction, performance, and execution of multiple product portfolios through the leadership of a team of Product Line Managers. This individual will own supplier strategy, product lifecycle management, and cross‑functional alignment to accelerate profitable growth, optimize inventory, enhance customer experience, and strengthen vendor partnerships. This role is highly collaborative and will work closely with Business Management, Business Development, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance, and IT. The Director will report to the VP of Product Development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in manufacturing, distribution, business, supply chain, or a related field; electrical/wire & cable strongly preferred.
7–10 years of industry experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role, preferably in electrical/communications distribution or manufacturing.
Proven success managing or directing product lines, categories, or business units with measurable financial results.
Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams and drive organizational results.
Ability to lead change effectively and guide teams through evolving priorities and business needs.
Exceptional communication skills—verbal, written, and executive‑level presentation.
High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word) and strong competency in analytics‑driven decision making.
Ability to understand, interpret, and act upon data models related to sales, margins, forecasting, and inventory performance.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and coach a team of Product Line Managers responsible for OmniCable’s Communications Enterprise product portfolio.
Build and execute the product strategy, ensuring alignment with company growth goals, supplier expectations, and overall corporate strategy.
Own supplier engagement strategy, including reviewing performance, negotiating commercial programs, and elevating strategic partnerships.
Champion cross‑functional collaboration to ensure competitive pricing, healthy margins, and operational excellence across the product lifecycle.
Drive organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product performance, service levels, and profitability.
Oversee forecasting, budgeting, product structure, commercial policy development, and financial performance across all assigned product lines.
Monitor margin performance, inventory turns, sales trends, and key analytics to guide strategic decision‑making.
Approve and guide inventory strategies in partnership with Supply Chain and Purchasing to ensure product availability, optimized stocking profiles, and improved supplier service levels.
Manage the ship‑and‑debit program(s) in collaboration with Finance and supplier leadership teams.
Provide strategic direction for product launches, product lifecycle management, promotions, marketing content, training, and go‑to‑market planning.
Ensure the team develops proactive analytical tools and models that identify opportunities for growth, margin improvement, and operational efficiency.
Lead the creation of market plans, sales enablement materials, and training programs to support internal teams and industry partners.
Represent the Communications Business Unit in business reviews, supplier meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
Partner closely with Sales and Marketing to position OmniCable’s product solutions competitively within the market.
Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain to support service improvements and operational execution.
Work with IT and Analytics teams to enhance data visibility, reporting, and decision‑support tools